Auto unlock

You’ve got an Apple Watch. You’ve got a Mac. Doesn’t it make sense to have them help each other out? One of the time-saving ways the two devices can coordinate is called Auto Unlock. It uses your Apple Watch to sign into your Mac computer, similar to the way a smart key fob can automatically unlock your car doors when you’re in close proximity. However, to make sure your Watch and Mac are best buds, you’ll have to review your settings and authorize the feature. Read on to find out how the pairing process is done, and the requirements for setting it up, as we explain how to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch.The requirements for your Mac are a little more demanding. You need a mid-2013 model or newer to use this feature, so older Macs simply don’t qualify. If you have a Mac that has the right hardware capabilities, it also needs to be running MacOS Sierra 10.12 or later. You can click on your Mac Notification sidebar to catch a … [Read more...] about Use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac with a quick settings change

Yesterday Apple released the latest version of its desktop OS, macOS Sierra v10.12. The new software features a number of noteworthy enhancements, such as voice-activated Siri commands, support for Apple Pay payments via the Safari browser, a polished Photos app, and many new iOS integrations.But Apple Watch owners will be particularly interested in one new macOS authentication feature. The new "Auto Unlock" option lets you quickly unlock your Mac by simply wearing an unlocked Watch while in range of the laptop or desktop.It's easy to turn on Auto Unlock, though you have to enable two-factor authentication for your Apple ID if you haven't already. Here is a set of simple steps to get Auto Unlock up and running.Open your "Spotlight Search" bar (the magnifying glass at the top-right of your Mac display), type "System Preferences," and then hit "Enter" to open the preferences window.Choose "Security & Privacy" from the top row of settings icons, and on the "General" tab, check the box … [Read more...] about How to ‘Auto Unlock’ your Mac with Apple Watch

Ford is increasing the number of smartphone functions that can be controlled from car interfaces by adding support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and introducing more apps for its Sync in-vehicle connectivity system.Apple CarPlay and Google's Android Auto have been designed for users to be able to continue to use their phones to access information and make calls from the vehicle's native interface while driving, by connecting the phone to the car.The car company is adding these capabilities in line with its strategy to provide higher integration between car functions and smartphone apps. It aims for example to use its Sync Connect technology to let users remotely lock and unlock cars, check fuel levels, and locate and start a vehicle using a smartphone.Apple CarPlay added to Sync will give iPhone users access to maps, messages, phone calls and music through Siri voice control or a touch screen, while Android Auto will allow for easier access to Google's services like voice search, … [Read more...] about Ford to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on Sync 3

Updated at 12:56 a.m. Pacific to add Apple’s statement.Apple was ordered Tuesday by a federal judge in California to provide assistance to the FBI to search a locked iPhone 5c that was used by Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the terrorists said to have been involved in an attack in San Bernardino, California, on Dec. 2.The government’s request under a statute called the All Writs Act will likely give a boost to attempts by law enforcement to look for vendor-provided backdoors to encrypted devices and communications. Apple is fighting in a New York federal court a similar move by the Department of Justice to get the company’s help in unlocking the iPhone 5s smartphone of an alleged methamphetamine dealer. On Friday, it asked the New York court to give a final order as it has received additional similar requests from law enforcement agencies, and was advised that more such requests could come under the same statute.U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker had filed … [Read more...] about Apple opposes judge’s order to unlock iPhone used by San Bernardino attacker

The FBI has promised to help local law enforcement authorities crack encrypted devices, in a letter that refers to the federal agency’s success in accessing the data on an iPhone 5c running iOS 9 that was used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists.The agency did not, however, explicitly promise investigators that it would deploy the same tool, said to have been developed by an outside organization, on other iPhones.The FBI had earlier demanded in court that Apple should assist it in its attempts to crack by brute force the passcode of the iPhone used by the terrorist, without triggering an auto-erase feature that could be activated after 10 unsuccessful tries.It changed its stance and informed the court that it was trying out a technique from an external organization that could possibly help it access the data on the phone. It later informed the court that it was able to access the data on the phone and that Apple’s help would not be required. The order on Apple was … [Read more...] about After cracking Apple’s iPhone, FBI will help US agencies unlock encrypted devices

Over the past few years, Ford has been transforming its identity from automotive giant to technology titan. Now, it's taking another step toward re-imagining the vehicle as a computing platform.On Monday, January 4, Ford announced new updates to its SYNC connectivity system including support for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE connectivity, as well as a host of new AppLink Apps. In the North American market, the updates will begin rolling out this year, beginning with the 2017 Ford Escape. Ford owners who have a 2016 model equipped with SYNC 3 (the third iteration of SYNC) will be able to upgrade later in 2016. Apple CarPlay works with iPhone 5 or later, and will give iPhone users the ability to access their smartphones in a familiar interface. Drivers simply plug their phone into the USB port and the CarPlay interface pops up, providing access to Siri and other hands-free features. Android Auto—compatible with Android 5.0 or higher—will give Android … [Read more...] about Ford announces SYNC 3 will integrate with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

It’s hard to avoid the amount of technology invading the automotive space these days, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Here are a couple of examples worth a look: Get In Stock Alerts on Twitter for SNES Classic, Switch and More Oculus PrimeFord has a new and exclusive-for-now tool in its quiver: Oculus Rift, a 3-D virtual reality simulator headset that lets engineers and designers “see” exactly how a given vehicle looks and feels, inside and out. By placing the user in a reconfigurable interior buck, the Oculus—kind of like a giant set of ski goggles loaded with high-tech wizardry and lenses—allows the designer to “feel” the same surfaces the goggles are allowing him to virtually see. The net effect for car buyers is that the system allows Ford to make sure everything in a car is exactly where a consumer might want or expect them to be, says Elizabeth Baron, Ford virtual reality specialist. “Glass, start my … [Read more...] about 2014 Detroit Auto Show: Future Tech

The FBI might be able to copy the hard drive of an iPhone used by a mass shooter without triggering the device's auto-erase functions, thus eliminating the agency's need to take Apple to court, a company executive said Tuesday.Instead of forcing Apple to help defeat the iPhone password security that erases the device's contents after 10 unsuccessful attempts, it may be possible to make hundreds of copies of the hard drive, said Bruce Sewell, Apple's senior vice president and general counsel.Apple doesn't know the condition of the iPhone used by San Bernardino mass shooter Syed Rizwan Farook, so it's unclear if mirroring the hard drive would work, but it's possible, Sewell said during a congressional hearing.The suggestion that the FBI attempt to copy the iPhone's hard drive first came from Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican and former car-alarm entrepreneur.The design of the older model iPhone 5C may allow investigators to remove its hard drive and make multiple copies, … [Read more...] about The FBI should try to unlock a shooter’s iPhone without Apple’s help, a lawmaker says

Virgin Mobile is becoming America’s first iPhone-only carrier, and to celebrate its collaboration with Apple, it’s launched heavy deals on a year’s worth of cell service and the purchase price of a new iPhone SE.For existing customers and new customers who port-in a number, Virgin Mobile will give them a year’s worth of unlimited talk, text, and data service for $1 when they purchase a new iPhone and sign up for Auto Pay. To help sweeten that deal even further, the virtual network carrier is offering $120 off an unlockable 32GB and 128GB iPhone SE.Yes, that’s $1 for the whole time period—we double-checked with Virgin Mobile to confirm. It works out to about 8 cents per month for the year-long promotion, and about 16 cents per month for the six-month-long promotion.We also verified that Virgin Mobile is selling these iPhones as unlockable phones. According to multiple company spokespersons, if you buy the phone from Virgin, it comes locked … [Read more...] about Virgin Mobile has a $120 discount on an instantly unlockable 32GB and 128GB iPhone SE

Apple released macOS Sierra on September 20. The new operating system update comes with a long list of new features include Siri. One of the flashy new features is Auto Unlock with Apple Watch. You just sit down in front of your Mac and boom, you are logged in. A lot of Apple Watch owners are though not getting the "boom" experience. The Login with the Apple Watch does not work. There are several reasons why the Auto Unlock is not working after you have installed macOS Sierra. Apple has been open about the fact that only Mac computers made 2013 and later are compatible with the Auto Unlock feature. Why 2011 MacBook Air, 2011 Mac mini, 2012 MacBook Pro and 2012 iMacs are not compatible is unclear. These models have Bluetooth Lower Energy support. You can check if your Mac supports Bluetooth LE, by checking the system configuration in the System Report. Under Bluetooth look for LMP Version: if its lower than 0x6, you have no Bluetooth Low Energy support.While the hardware compatibility … [Read more...] about This Is Why Auto Unlock With Apple Watch Does Not Work On MacOS Sierra